SECTION I - KINESIOLOGY / RESEARCH PAPER
Rotational vs. Straight Landings: Exploring Task-Specific Responses to Inform ACL-Injury Risk Screening
1
College of Sports Science and Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
2
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
3
Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK.
Submission date: 2024-07-08
Final revision date: 2025-01-06
Acceptance date: 2025-02-03
Online publication date: 2025-09-23
Corresponding author
Jasper Verheul
Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom
Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Rotational landing tasks have the potential to support screening methods for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) specific injury risk. However, alterations in lower-limb kinematics and kinetics during rotational landings, and sex-specific responses, are currently largely unexplored. This study, therefore, explored the differences in lower-limb kinematic and kinetic characteristics between rotational and straight landings, and the sex-specific responses to rotational landings. Thirty-six healthy team-sport athletes (eighteen males and eighteen females) performed straight bilateral and unilateral landings, and rotational (clockwise and counterclockwise) landings, from a box while lower-limb kinematics and ground reaction forces (GRFs) were recorded. Rotational landings were found to emphasise (p < 0.001) hip flexion angles at initial contact and peak vertical GRF. Differences between males and females (p < 0.001) were identified during rotational landings (but not straight landings) for peak ankle dorsiflexion and time to peak vertical GRF, with significant task-sex interactions. Compared to the bilateral landing, unilateral tasks affected the magnitude or highlighted sex-specific differences for nine and one biomechanical characteristics, respectively. Together, these outcomes provide further insights into lower-limb kinematic and kinetic responses to rotational landings. These findings offer additional support for the use of rotational, as well as unilateral elements, for ACL-injury risk screening practice.
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